Bollywood experienced a significant box office clash this Independence Day with the simultaneous release of three major films: Khel Khel Mein, Vedaa, and Stree 2. Each film brought its own set of expectations and fan following to the box office, but it was Akshay Kumar’s Khel Khel Mein that faced notable challenges in maintaining its momentum.
On its opening day, Khel Khel Mein had a modest start. The film, a comic drama starring Akshay Kumar, received a lukewarm response from audiences. Despite the initial buzz, the film struggled to build on its opening momentum. The subsequent days revealed a sharp decline in box office collections, highlighting the film’s difficulty in sustaining viewer interest.
According to industry tracker Sacnilk.com, Khel Khel Mein saw a dramatic drop in collections on its second day. The film earned only ₹2.05 crore on Day 2, a significant decrease from the ₹5.05 crore net it collected on its opening day. This represents a 59.41% decline in box office revenue, reflecting the film’s inability to maintain audience engagement beyond the initial release.
By August 16, Khel Khel Mein had accumulated a total of ₹7.1 crore net at the domestic box office. The film’s underwhelming performance is further underscored by its overall Hindi occupancy rates. On its second day, the film achieved an average occupancy of 16.22%, with varying attendance throughout the day. The night shows performed slightly better, with an occupancy rate of 28.85%, while afternoon and evening shows had occupancy rates of 13.48% and 15.56%, respectively. Morning shows recorded a low occupancy of 6.99%.
In specific regions, Khel Khel Mein's performance was mixed. In Mumbai, where the film was screened in 353 shows, the occupancy rate was 19.25% on the second day. In the National Capital Region (NCR), which had 416 shows, the occupancy stood at 18.25%. These figures illustrate the uneven reception of the film across different markets and time slots.
Khel Khel Mein revolves around Rishabh, a successful plastic surgeon portrayed by Akshay Kumar, whose seemingly perfect marriage to Vartika (played by Vaani Kapoor) is under strain due to a three-month ultimatum issued by his wife. As the narrative progresses, it becomes clear that Rishabh’s life is not as ideal as it seems, with underlying secrets affecting his relationship. The film also features Taapsee Pannu, Ammy Virk, Fardeen Khan, Pragya Jaiswal, and Aditya Seal in pivotal roles. Directed by Mudassar Aziz, known for his work on Happy Bhag Jayegi and Pati Patni Aur Woh, the film is produced by White World Productions, Wakaoo Films, and T-Series. It is a remake of the 2016 Italian film Perfect Strangers.
The film’s performance adds to a series of setbacks for Akshay Kumar in 2024. Khel Khel Mein marks the third flop for the actor this year, following his previous films Sarfira and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan. The continued underperformance of his films this year highlights a challenging period for Kumar, affecting his standing at the box office.
In contrast to Khel Khel Mein’s performance, other films released alongside it have fared better. Stree 2, starring Shraddha Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao, has achieved notable success, crossing ₹100 crore in just two days. Similarly, Vedaa, featuring John Abraham and Sonakshi Sinha, has garnered ₹8.1 crore net in India within its first two days of release. These figures emphasize the competitive landscape and the varying success levels of Bollywood releases during this period.
Overall, Khel Khel Mein’s box office performance reflects a disappointing outcome amidst a competitive film release environment. Despite the film’s star-studded cast and the director’s previous successes, it struggled to capture and maintain audience interest. The stark contrast between its performance and that of other releases highlights the unpredictable nature of box office success in Bollywood.